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Using your new Starter Pack
- Daniel Wal
Now that you have your new Starter Pack installed, you’ll want to use the information to create components to finish estimating your bids.
Disclaimer
You must test and verify any modifications you make to a Starter Pack to ensure quantities and calculations are accurate. PlanSwift cannot verify the accuracy of modifications you make to templates, parts, and assemblies.
Copy and Paste an Assembly
The purpose of copying and pasting an assembly is to allow the user to copy and then modify the assembly for later use. As an example, you may want two different assemblies: one might include a part, and another might have an alternative part or not include that part at all. By copying one assembly and then modifying and renaming the copy (for easy identification), you can have two different assemblies available, allowing for easier and faster takeoffs. Figure A1 shows the Templates Tab (arrow 1) and the Area Takeoff Item Example 1 assembly (arrow 2). If you want to add another assembly but with no Material 3, then you would click on the assembly you want to copy (arrow 2), click on Copy (arrow 3), and then click on Paste (arrow 4).
Figure A2 shows the original (arrows 1) and new Area Takeoff Item Example 1 assembly (arrow 2). To delete the Material 3 (arrow 3) from the newly created Area Takeoff Item Example 1 assembly (arrow 2), click on Material 3 (arrow 3), click on Delete (arrow 4), and click on Ok in the popup window to confirm the deletion.
Figure A3 now shows the two assemblies, one with (arrow 1) and one without (arrow 2) the Material 3 item. You can now change the description of the duplicated Area Takeoff Item Example 1 (arrow 3) without the Material 3 item by double-clicking the duplicate Area Takeoff Item Example 1 (arrow 3).
This opens the Properties – [Area Takeoff Item Example 1] window (Figure A4) where you can change the assembly’s name to something like Area Takeoff Item Example 1— No Material 3 to make it easier to identify.
Click on Ok in the Properties window after you have entered the name. Figure A5 shows the new name.
To perform a takeoff with the Area Takeoff Item Example 1—No Material 3 assembly, go to the takeoff page, click on the green Record Button (see the arrow in Figure A6) in the Templates sidebar window, and then proceed to do your takeoff.
Copy and Paste Parts
Copying and pasting parts is handled similarly to copying and pasting an assembly. If, for instance, you want to move Material 6 in Area Takeoff Item Example 2 to Area Takeoff Item Example 1, click on Material 6 (arrow 1), then click on copy (arrow 2) as shown in Figure B1.
There are now two ways to paste the part. The first is to paste it at the same hierarchical level of a selected item, and the second is to paste it as a sub-item of a selected item. Figure B2 shows the Paste button. Clicking on the top half of the button pastes the part at the same hierarchical level of a selected item. Clicking on the dropdown half of the button, then selecting As Sub-Item pastes the part as a sub-item of the selected item.
Click on Area Takeoff Item Example 1, then click on the top half of Paste. As shown in Figure B3, Material 6 gets pasted at the same hierarchical level as Area Takeoff Item Example 1.
If you had selected the drop-down half of the Paste button, then Material 6 would be a sub-item of Area Takeoff Item Example 1. Figure B4 shows Material 6 as a sub-item.
Another way to adjust the hierarchy of an item, such as Material 6, is to use the Main Ribbon bar arrow Adjust keys (Figure B5).
The left and right Adjust arrows move the item left and right (up or down) in the hierarchy, and the up and down Adjust arrows keys moves the item higher and lower in the list of items.
A shortcut to the Copy and Paste and Past as Sub-Item selections is available with a right-click menu. Figure B6 shows the Copy, Paste, and Paste As Sub-Item options on the right-click menu when Material 6 is right-clicked on.
Double-clicking on Material 6 allows you to change the name of the item and alter other properties of the item (Figure B7). To change the name of Material 6, double-click on the Material 6 name, type the new name, and click on Ok.
Figure B8 shows Material 6 renamed to Material 6A.
Drag and Drop Parts
Parts may be dragged and dropped from one assembly to another assembly. If, for instance, you want to drag the Material 8 item from Area Takeoff Item Example 2 up to Area Takeoff Item Example 1, click on Material 8 and drag it up to just below Material 6A (see Figure C1) and release the mouse button.
Notice that dragging the part this way moves the part from the Example 2 assembly to the Example 1 assembly, not leaving behind a copy.
The Templates sidebar window is a summarized view of everything in the Templates Tab. It is designed for easily dragging and dropping parts and for quickly launching takeoff templates and assemblies.
Parts may be dragged over from the Templates sidebar window into the Templates Tab window; note that dragging any part from the Templates sidebar window makes a copy of it. If, for instance, you want a Material 7 item added to Area Takeoff Item Example 1 as a sub-item, simply drag the Material 7 from the right Templates sidebar window over on top of Area Takeoff Item Example 1 label and release the mouse button. (Figure C2).
Figure C2 shows the Material 7 item in place after it was dropped on top of Area Takeoff Item Example 1. In addition, the Properties – [Material 7] window automatically opens, allowing the user to change any properties for Material 7. Click on Ok to close the Properties – [Material 7] window.
Frequently Asked Questions about Starter Packs
Question: I’ve read this article, but I still have questions. What do I do?
Answer: PlanSwift recommends that you purchase a training package. We highly recommend new users purchase a training package, because training is customized to each user. We offer one-on-one training and classroom training. Contact PlanSwift® Training Department Training-ops@ConstructConnect.com.
Question: Does the Starter Pack include everything a contractor will need to generate an estimate?
Answer: No. A Starter Pack is a tool to get you started toward creating a complete estimate. For example, the Starter Pack does not include industry pricing for materials and labor. However, you can supply prices for materials and labor on the assemblies and labor included in the Starter Pack.
Question: Do I have to input all the pricing for all my parts?
Answer: Inputting pricing is optional. You can use the Starter Pack to generate quantities that you can then send to your supplier, who can then provide you current pricing. Inputting pricing on your own is optional. If your industry’s pricing is not subject to frequent changes, you may want to consider inputting your pricing in PlanSwift.
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